An invasive species effect on non-native habitat

Posted: May 05, 2016

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An invasive species effect on non-native habitat

Reasons for Increase And Decrease In The Invasive Species Population

The invasive species increases because of they are restricted by natural factors the same way as they were in their native habitat. Due to their restricted feeding habits, invasive species starts to feed Phytoplankton (the primary organism in the feeding level in food chain). Consequently, Phytoplankton population begin to decrease and so are the Quagga and Zebra mussels who depend on them for survival.

Implications of These Alternations on the Entire Ecosystem

These alterations have economic and environmental implications to the ecosystem. Based on the environmental implications, these invasive species are causing other species in the ecosystem to diminish which in turn affect the population of other native mussels. However, increase on the mussels also pollutes the ocean floors and our beaches, whilst their discriminative feeding habits are leading to bioaccumulation of organic pollutants – affecting other aquatic organisms. The treatment and maintenance of invasive species is expensive as they accumulates on docks, beaches, anchors, and boats and this has negative impact on clogging water and recreation activities.

Part I

Year

Quagga and Zebra Mussel (density/m2)

Phytoplankton (µg/ml)

Zooplankton (µg/ml)

Cldophora Biomass (g/m2)

0

100.00

3.00

2.00

10.00

4

1000.00

2.50

1.00

100.00

7

2500.00

2.00

0.50

200.0

10

7500.00

1.50

0.25

600.00

13

15000.00

1.00

0.10

700.00

16

7500.00

1.50

0.20

243.00

20

5000.00

1.75

0.40

136.00

Table 1

Part II

Lab Report

Purpose

The major objective of this lab report is to highlight and assess the environmental hazards brought about by the invasive species (these species include those that are external natural ecological system and they have potential threat to the environment). These environmental threats to the biological diversity are evaluated in this lab.

Introduction

Most importantly, native species have a vital role they play in the proper existence of a given ecosystem. The invasive species, for example, Quagga and Zebra Mussel often destroy an already established ecosystem. The Zebra mussels are small shellfish inhabitant to the Caspian, Black, and Azov Seas. The Quagga Mussels are freshwater bivalve mollusks indigenous to the Ponto-Caspian Sea and the Ukrainian Dnieper River drainage. The damage brought about by these invasive species can be regarded as multilayer. For instance, Zebra mussels significantly reduce the natural filtration velocity – generating more pseudo-feces. Besides, they create crevices that become part of habitat complex where invertebrate species live (Richardson, 2011).

Hypothesis

Invasive species have a negative effect on the ecosystem – posing threat to the native species.

Methods

The inclination of the invasive species to increase population often interrupts the natural order of ecosystem. It is also vital to note that the invasive species negatively affect the vegetation. Based on the table 1, the population of Quagga and Zebra mussel in 1 m2 increases the population of Zooplankton, Phytoplankton, Lake Trout, and Foraging Fish decreases. Therefore, native species’ population reduces – triggering undesirable effect on ecosystem.

Results

The result in this study supports the hypothesis that as invasive species increase, other species decreases – posing the negative effect on the environment and ecosystem.

Discussion

The study produces the anticipated outcome as data apparently indicates that the invasive species ruin the natural order of the ecosystem by disrupting tropic level and food web. The interdependency and relationships between two organisms are destroyed and environmentalists often discredit the invasive species.